Pump and compressor.



H. A."HUMPHREY & W. l. RUSDELL.

PUMP AND COMPRESSOR. APPLICATION FILED ocT. I6. I'9I2.

Patented May 1, 191.7.

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W//I/ESSES: Wai! o? L1 i KIM 57m fg( Wd Arron/vir HERBERT ALFREDHUMPHREY, OF LONDON, AND WILLIAM JOSEPH RUSDELL, OF DUI)- i LEY,WORCESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIG-NORS TO HUMPI-IREY G-AS CORPORATION v01E" NEWYORK.

PUMP COMPANY, A

PUMP AND COMPRESSOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that We, HERBERT ALFRED I-IUMPHREY, a subject of the Kingvof Great Britain, residing in London, England, and WELIAM JOSEPHRUSDELL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Dudley,Worcester, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pumpsand Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in pumps and compressors of thetype in which the operation of the apparatus comprises the reciprocationof a suitable heavy mass or masses, such for example as shown anddescribed in our4 copending applications Serial N o. 438,426, filed June 13, 1908 and Serial No. 696,639, filed May 11, 1912.

An object of our invention is to provide method and means for utilizingpressure, energy, or inertia, of the exhaust gases, in causing theintroduction of fresh expansible charges, or scavenging air, or both.

It is frequently desirable that the expansible charge should be ameasured charge, and the scavenging air when used, may also be measured,so that the required volumes only are admitted or allowed to remain inthe expansion chamber, and our invention also includes improved methodand means for the accomplishment of this object.

A further object of our invention is to utilize the exhaust from theexpansion chamber to act on pistons or diaphragms adapted to operate aspumps for forcing or sucking into the chamber fresh expansible charges.

The movements of the reciprocatin masses or a part thereof, changes ofleve or the pressure changes which occur in any part of the apparatusmay be employed to ,control automatically the pressure at which thevalves for elastic fluid operate, and to time their movements correctly.Also, the quantity or quantities of expansible medium introduced intothe expansion chamber may be likewise controlled t0 cause or to meetvariations in the operating conditions. For example, when liquid orfluid is to be forced to an increased head or pressure the exhaustvalves may be opened when the pressure, during expansion, is higher thanduring previous working, and this may bring about higher mean pressuresor the introduction of larger combustible charges or both these resultsin the chamber. It is also possible to obtain some degree ofpre-compression of the charge if the exhaust is closed while there isstill a pressure in the devices which supply the expansible medium.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate merely by way of example,suitable means for effecting our invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of apparatus for utilizing the energy ofthe exhaust to cause a fresh expansible charge and fresh 1spavenging airto enter the expansion cham- Fig. 2 is a vertical section of apparatusfor utilizing the exhaust to act on a suitable piston to force theexpansible charge into the expansion chamber.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1, 4 is the top portion of an expansion chamber which is dividedinto chambers 1 and 2, by a partition 3 which extends below the pointrepresented by the lowest level to which liquid falls in the expansionchamber and does not extend so far as the top of the chamber so that thetwo spaces 1 and 2 are in communication at the top. The expansionchamber is connected with the play pipe 4a. Fitted at suitable intervalsin the wall of the expansion chamber are the gas inlet valve 5, the airinlet valve 9, and, on the other side of the partition, the exhaustvalve 6. Means are provided for positively opening the exhaust valvewhen a desired pressure is reached. In the present instance the deviceshown for this purpose consists of a small piston 7 moving in a cylinder10 and adapted to be acted upon by liquid or elastic fluid underpressure supplied through the pipes 11 and 12. Pipe 13 provides anescape for the liquid or fluid on the right hand side of piston 7 andallows valve 6 to be shut by the action of liquid rising in theexpansion chamber.

As a convenient means for supplying liquid under pressure for openingthe exhaust valve 6 we provide the reservoir 14, the uper part of whichcontains an elastic cushion, the lower part being supplied with liquidunder pressure from the expansion chamber through pipe 15 controlled bya non-return valve 16. Another pipe 17 communicating with the expansionchamber permits liquid under pressure to act on the piston 18 whichmoves in a cylinder 19 and is controlled by a spring 49. Attached to the11o piston is a flexible rod having at its outer end a hook 2O adaptedto engage with a projection 21 rigidly attached to a 2-way cock 22carrying an arm 23 which is urged by a spring 24: to the left so asnormally to keep the valve 22 in the position shown. When the pressurerises in the expansion chamber the piston 18 is moved to the right andthe hook passes the projection 21. As the pressure falls piston 18 isurged to the left by its spring, and when a certain pressure has beenreached the hook 20 engaging in the projection 21 rotates cock 22 so asto put pipe 11 in communication with pipe 12. This permits high pressureliquid to flow from reservoir 14: and to` force piston 7 to the left andso open the exhaust valve.

To the right of the exhaust valve 6 there is provided the long exhaustpipe having a flaring outer end communicating with the atmosphere. Wehave also provided the chamber 50 which contains a large surface ofcooling liquid. This chamber is connected with pipe 25, and valve 51 insaid pipe is adapted to be closed as the exhaust gases cool by contactwith the cool liquid.

The purpose of the construction just described is to utilize the energyof the exhaust due to momentum or inertia through the long pipe 25 andto high temperature thereof, to introduce fresh expansible charges intothe expansion chamber. The effect of the cooling liquid in chamber 50 onthe hot exhaust creates a partial vacuum, which, with the suction due tothe momentum of the exhaust through pipe 25, causes valves 5. and 9 toopen to admit fresh expansible charges and fresh scavenging air to theexpansion chamber. The adjustment of spring 49 of piston 18 is such thatexhaust valve 6 is opened when the pressure in the expansion chamber ishigh enough to give the exhaust gases escaping past valve 6 andtraveling through the long exhaust pipe 25 suiiicient velocity andmomentum for the continued outward movement of the gases, to lower thepressure in the expansion chamber and cause the intake of a fresh chargethrough valve 5 and fresh air through y, valve 9.

As the pressure falls still further in the chamber, hook 20 disengagesfrom projection 21 and the spring 24 rotates the valve 22 back to itsoriginal position, so that the pressure is relieved from piston 7 andvalve 6 is only held open by the spring 26 which is weak enough topermit the valve to be closed by the action of the rising liquid.

Where Va combustible charge is employed as the expansible force, inorder that the amount of gas and air taken in through each charge may bemade a definite quantity, and that the valves may be opened in the rightsequence, we provide a charge measuring and timing devices. In theexample shown in Fig. 1, the air supply pipe 27 communicates with acylinder 28 in which moves a plate 29 loosely fitting the cylinder andattached to the rod 30 which is suitably guided. The adjustable collar31 attached to rod 30 is adapted to engage the lever 32 connected to thepawl 33, which is adapted to engage collar 34 on the stem of the gasvalve 5. `The operation is such that when the plate 29 has risen to acertain height valve 5 is released by the said pawl to admit gas.

In communication with the gas supply Vthere is a gas bag having aflexible diaphragm 35, carrying at its center a valve 36 adapted toclose the mouth of pipe 37, when a given quantity of gas has been suckedout of the gas bag by the sudden inflow of gas into the expansionchamber, faster than it can be supplied through the inlet pipe 38.

W'hen the energy of the exhaust gases in pipe 25 is expended and thecharge of air and gas has been drawn into the expansion chamber, valves5 and 9 close under the action of their springs.

The plate 29, which has been sucked up and may close the opening intopipe 27, thereby measuring the amount of air admitted, is'now free tofall under its own weight, while air leaks past the plate from the lowerto the upper side, and until its motion is arrested by the adjustablestop 39.. There will now be a fresh charge of air above plate 29, readyto enter the expansion chamber when the next suction stroke occurs.

Again, when valve 5 has closed, gas supplied under slight pressure fromthe pipe 38 will lill the g'as bag and cause the diaphragm to move tothe left into its original position.

The action of the apparatus as a whole is as follows Starting with anignited compressed combustible charge or other expansible charge in theupper part 4: of the expansion chamber, the valves 5, 6 and 9 beingshut, liquid is driven downward in the expansion chamber and outwardlyin the play pipe 4c against a head or pressure, under such conditionsthat the column of liquid is free to return after it has come to rest,in

the manner fully explained in our said copending applications.

When the expansible charge has expanded to the pressure at which valve 6opens, there is an exhaust through pipe 25 and the energy of thisexhaust is utilized to draw in first air through valve 9 and then, whenplate 29 has risen far enough to cause the release of pawl 33 and theopening of valve 5 in the manner described, air and gas flow in togetherin measured quantity. Valves 5 and 9 then close. The outwardly pro elledliquid having come to rest returns un er its head or pressure toward theexpansion chamber and expels exhaust products through valve 6 until theliquid reaching this valve closes it. The continued rise of the liquidin the chamber then compresses the fresh combustible mixture in the topof the chamber until, the column having once more come to rest, ignitionof the fresh charge starts a new cycle.

There may be a partial exhaust of burnt products by liquid liowing froma source of supply through the liquid inlet valves and rising in thechamber before the column of liquid commences its return movement towardthe chamber.

In the modification of our invention shown in Fig. 2, as in the formshown in Fig. l, 4 is the top of the expansion chamber which is dividedby a partition 3 into spaces l and 2. 6 is the exhaust valve operatedand controlled as above described in connection with Fig. l. Iheexpansible charge is supplied to the expansion chamber through valve 5.It will be understood that for the lsake of simplicity alone, a deviceemploying a single inlet valve has been shown and described merely as anexample. The expansible charge is supplied through valve 5 from areservoir 40 into which the expansible medium is forced under pressure,past valve 43, by the upward movement of piston 41 in cylinder 42. Theupward movement of piston 41 is caused by the pressure of the exhaustacting upon the under side of the piston through the comparatively largepipe 47. The smaller pipe 45 permits the escape of the exhaust to theatmosphere at a slower rate of speed.

After the piston 4l has been raised the continued escape of exhaustgases through pipe 45, which may be regulated by a cock 46, causes areduced pressure beneath piston 41, so that the piston descends, valve43 closes, the valve 44 opens to admit fresh combustible charge.

When the pressure has fallen low enough in the expansion chamber 4, thepressure in reservoir 40 will cause valve 5 to open, and

the fresh charge will be admitted, until, the pressure, becoming nearlyequal on both sides of valve 5, the latter will be shut under the actionof its spring.

l/Vhen the column of liquid returns and the level of liquid rises in theexpansion chamber and reaches valve 6, this valve will be shut and thecontinued movement of the liquid will compress the fresh charge.

What we claim is :4-

l. In combination with a play pipe for the reciprocation of a liquidcolumn, an expansion chamber for a primary medium, having an intakevalve and an exhaust valve suitably positioned, a suitably proportionedexhaust conduit leading from the exhaust valve and means for operatingthe exhaust valve while the expanding medium is under suflicientpressure to cause the same to escape through said valve and conduitunder such conditions of velocity and momentum, whereby fresh elasticfluid is caused to enter the expansion chamber.

2. In combination with a play pipe for the reciprocation of a liquidcolumn, an expansion chamber for a primary medium connected therewithhaving'an intake valve and an exhaust valve suitably positioned withrespect to the intake valve, a suitably proportioned conduit leadingfrom the exhaust valve, means for operating the exhaust valve while theexpanding charge is under pressure, and means connected with the exhaustconduit for cooling the exhaust gases externally to the expansionchamber to diminish the pressure therein, whereby fresh elastic Huid iscaused to enter the expansion chamber.

3. In combination with a play pipe for the reciprocation of a liquidcolumn, an expansion chamber for a primary medium, having an intakevalve and an exhaust valve suitably positioned with respect to theintake valve, a suitably proportioned exhaust conduit leading from theexhaust valve and means controlled by the pressure in the expansionchamber for operating the exhaust valve while the expanding medium isunder suflicient pressure to cause the same to escape 'through saidvalve and conduit under such conditions of velocity and momentum,whereby fresh elastic liuid is caused to enter the expansion chamber.

HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY. WILLIAM JOSEPH RUSDELL.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH MILLARD, WALTER I. SKERTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington; D. G.

